Strawberry plant named Calusa

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Calusa’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Marathon’ and ‘Biscayne’. The variety is distinguished from Marathon and Biscayne, in particular, by its flat habit, dense plant density, obtuse terminal leaflet shape, same size calyx in relation to fruit on the secondary fruit, and fruit with weak to medium acidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘41Z182’ (unpatented Driscoll variety) and ‘Baeza’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,548) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla. in December, 1997. The original seedling was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, California. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla. where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. Calusa was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing for five years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Calusa’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

[0003] The varieties which we believe to be similar to Calusa from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/396,214 filed Sep. 15, 1999) and ‘Marathon’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/396,213 filed Sep. 15, 1999). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by Biscayne or Marathon. The new variety has a flat habit, plant density is dense, terminal leaflet shape is obtuse, size of the calyx in relation to fruit on the secondary fruit is the same, and acidity of the fruit is weak to medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

[0005]FIG. 1 shows the whole plant.

[0006]FIG. 2 shows the leaves of the plant.

[0007]FIG. 3 shows the upper side and the under side of the flowers.

[0008]FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

[0009]FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0010] The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough, Fla., USA. Observations of Calusa, Marathon, and Biscayne were taken in side by side comparison in January, 2001. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

5.1 Propagation

[0011] The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolions or by tissue culture. Although propagation by stolons or tissue culture is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

5.2 Characteristics of the New Variety

[0012] Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The petal color of Calusa is white, 155C in the RHS Color Chart. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one year old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

[0013] Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety Calusa compared with characteristics of Marathon and Biscayne. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety Calusa compared with characteristics of the varieties Marathon and Biscayne. Table 3 provides information of the new variety's reaction to pests and diseases compared to the reaction of the varieties Marathon and Biscayne, respectively. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to the varieties Marathon and Biscayne. TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON OF CALUSA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Calusa Biscayne Marathon Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 13.8 13.7 14.3 Spread of Plant (cm) 31.3 32.7 34.1 Number of Crowns 5.4 6.9 6.0 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length (cm) 8.2 6.9 8.8 Terminal Leaflet Width (cm) 7.2 7.2 8.3 Terminal Leaflet 1.13 0.96 1.06 Length/Width Radio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet 25.5 26.0 25.7 Color of upper side 137A 137A 137B medium to light green light green light green Color of under side 138B 139C 139C Light Light Light grey green grey green grey green Petiole Length (cm) 11.6 11.4 11.9 Petiole Color 149A 141D 144B yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green Bract Frequency 90% 100% 80% mostly mostly mostly paired paired paired Stipule Length (cm) 3.9 3.6 3.3 Stipule Width (cm) 2.6 2.0 2.1 Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.33 1.29 1.47 Petal Width (cm) 1.19 1.45 1.66 Petal Length/Width Ratio 1.12 0.89 0.89 Flower Diameter (cm) 3.10 3.36 4.14 Calyx Diameter (cm) 3.84 4.17 4.82 Flower Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 5.1 4.1 4.6 Fruit Width (cm) 4.5 3.9 4.0 Fruit Length/Width Ratio 1.13 1.06 1.13 Average Berry Weight (g) 19 18 26 External Color 42A 46B 42A orange red red orange red Internal Color 42A 44A 42C orange red medium red light red Achene Coloration 13A to 177B 13B to 46A 12A to 46A yellow to yellow to yellow to dark red red red Yield (g/plant) 447 335 539

[0014] TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF CALUSA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Calusa Biscayne Marathon Plant Habit flat flat globose flat globose Density dense medium medium Vigor strong strong strong Leaf Shape in cross section slightly concave concave concave Interveinal blistering medium weak medium Glossiness medium medium medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet margin profile revolute revolute revolute Terminal leaflet shape of base obtuse rounded slightly oblique Terminal leaflet shape of teeth obtuse rounded obtuse Stipule pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pose of hairs outwards outwards outwards Stolon Number many many medium to many Anthocyanin coloration medium strong medium to strong Thickness thin to medium medium to medium thick Pubescence sparse to medium sparse medium Inflorescence Position relative to foliage level level beneath Diameter of calyx relative to larger larger larger corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx same size same size same size relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping over- lapping Fruiting Truss Fruiting Truss Length (cm) 13.8 17.1 18.3 Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical conical cordate Difference in shapes between slight slight slight primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes narrow narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak weak weak Evenness of color even even slightly uneven Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes level with level with below surface surface surface Insertion of calyx level level level Pose of the calyx segments spreading spreading spreading Size of calyx in relation to same size larger larger fruit on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong strong Firmness of flesh firm firm medium Evenness of flesh color slightly slightly slightly uneven uneven uneven Distribution of flesh color marginal and marginal and marginal central central and central Hollow center size medium large medium Sweetness weak to strong weak to medium medium Texture when tasted fine fine fine Acidity weak to medium medium medium Time of Flowering early early very early Harvest Interval Late- Early- Early- November December December through through through Mid-April Mid-April Mid-April Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing ever- bearing

5.3 Pest and Disease Resistance and Susceptibility

[0015] TABLE 3 Calusa Biscayne Marathon Reaction to Pests Tetranycus urticae susceptible susceptible susceptible Aphis spp. susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt susceptible susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle moderately moderately moderately Virus resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas moderately moderately moderately fragaraie susceptible susceptible susceptible

5.4 Isozyme Analysis

[0016] In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar, Calusa, has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from some other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of Calusa, Biscayne, and Marathon were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article. TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR CALUSA, BISCAYNE AND MARATHON Locus Calusa Biscayne Marathon PGI A4 A1 A1 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C4 C4 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 